Who is under the most pressure in college football Week 7? USC, Oklahoma and Arch Manning – The top offense in college football. One of the poorest defenses in the Big Ten. On paper, virtually nothing has changed for Southern California. The Trojans are averaging a Bowl. Ubdivision-best 8.5 yards per play. They rank fifth nationally in yards per carry. The passing game is one of three in the Power Four with at least 150 attempts and fewer than two interceptions. But the defense ranks 82nd in the country in yards allowed per play even after opening the year against Missouri State and Georgia Southern. USC is surrendering 6.5 yards per play and 27.3 points per game in three Big Ten meetings. Who is under the most pressure in college football Week 7
What may be a make-or-break year for coach Lincoln Riley hits a turning point against No. 15 Michigan, the sort of rugged, in-the-box opponent that has been the Trojans’ weakness since joining the Big Ten last season. A year ago, the Wolverines ran for 290 yards and won by a field goal. Two games later, Minnesota ran for 193 yards on the ground in an upset. Notre Dame had 258 yards on 6.8 yards per carry in taking the season finale. Beating the Wolverines would offset a last-second defeat to No. 17 Illinois and put USC on track for College Football Playoff contention moving into a second-half slate that includes road games against No. 16 Notre Dame and No. 2 Oregon along with matchups against Nebraska and Iowa,
And considering what’s to come in Big Ten play, a defeat would virtually end the Trojans’ postseason quest, changing the second half of the regular season into a referendum on Riley’s leadership of the team. That puts USC front and center in the USA TODAY Sports preview of the team, game, coach and quarterback bearing the most pressure in Week 7 of the regular season. That the playoff selection committee is told to evaluate injuries to important players “that may have affected a team’s performance” is a crucial element behind the Red River Rivalry between No. 6 Oklahoma and Texas. Who is under the most pressure in college football Week 7
The Sooners may take on struggling Texas without quarterback John Mateer, who is uncertain after surgery on his hand that was hurt the team’s win against Auburn.
In his place would be Michael Hawkins Jr., who had 195 yards of offense and three passing touchdowns as the starter in last weekend’s shutout of Kent State. While Hawkins is a very serviceable backup – a rare and very valuable commodity in the transfer-portal age – the offense plainly functions at a different frequency with Mateer at center.
And that’s the catch coming into the Cotton Bowl. Down the line, a loss to Texas may be downplayed by a committee that analyzes the Sooners as two different teams: one that excelled with Mateer and one that suffered without. But that argument only comes into play if Oklahoma has the end-of-year record to earn a place in the at-large playoff conversation.
At the very minimum, losing to the Longhorns would demand the Sooners go no worse than 4-2 against a schedule that brings No. 4 Mississippi, No. 11 LSU and No. 14 Missouri to Norman and sends the Sooners to No. 8 Alabama, No. 12 Tennessee and South Carolina. One thing to bear in mind while analyzing this contest is the play of Oklahoma’s defense. With coach Brent Venables calling plays, the Sooners top the FBS in allowing just 193 per game and 3.5 yards per play. This trio might make things unpleasant for Arch Manning and propel Hawkins and this offense past the finish line. Who is under the most pressure in college football Week 7
Dante Moore is the current Heisman Trophy leader for Oregon, a slot or two ahead of the Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza.
The two passers head two great offenses. Indiana ranked seventh nationally in yards per play and Oregon eighth. Indiana is fourth in scoring and Oregon sixth; the two teams are averaging a combined 94.4 points per game. And the defenses aren’t bad, either. The Hoosiers are fifth in the country in yards allowed up per game and the Ducks rank seventh. The image is clear: These are two of the finest teams in college football and this is one of the biggest matches of the regular season. Who is under the most pressure in college football Week 7
About the Author
